Clinical presentation

Pathology

A Zenker diverticulum is a pulsion-pseudodiverticulum and results from herniation of mucosa and submucosa through the Killian triangle (or Killian dehiscence), a focal weakness in the hypopharynx at the normal cleavage plane between the fibres of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor (thyropharyngeus muscle) and the cricopharyngeus muscles.

This phenomenon may lead to the creation of a sac with a narrow neck that can trap liquid and food. The distended sac may compress the cervical oesophagus.